Skeeter's Article

"Today's not so bad... We've got Herbology with the Hufflepuff's, Care of Magical Creatures – damn, we're still with the Slytherin's." Ron groaned.
"Double Divination this afternoon." Harry sighed.
"I don't understand why neither of you dropped that ridiculous class." Hermione said, shaking her head.
"My dad would probably kill me if I did." Jessica muttered. Her three friends gave her a questioning look, but she focused her attention on her bowl of cereal.
"But I doubt he would mind if you took up Arithmancy instead. It's very interesting." Hermione nodded.
"And it would also drive me insane." Jessica smirked.
"I noticed you're eating again." Ron said, as he watched Hermione add a generous amount of jam to her toast.
"Why? Wasn't she eating before?" Jessica asked, confused.
"Hermione thinks we treat the house elves like slaves and was planning a protest." Ron said.
"I've decided there are better ways of making a stand about elf rights." Hermione said, with her nose in the air.
"Right, sure." Ron sniggered.
There was a sudden rustling noise above them, and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows carrying the morning mail. Seamus Finnigan received his usual Daily Prophet and gasped loudly when he saw the picture on the front page. He nudged Harry, who was closest to him, and shoved the Prophet in his face.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked, curiously.
"Nothing!" Harry and Seamus said in unison.
"Don't be ridiculous, both of you. What's wrong?" Hermione said. Harry frowned slightly and placed the newspaper on the table. Jessica leaned forward, curious to know what all the fuss was about. She regretted it instantly, though.

SCANDAL OF THE YEAR!
There have been many anonymous reports that have lead us to believe that Athos Selwyn, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has divorced his wife of many years. However, there has now been confirmation by none other than Ministry's Pius Thicknesse. According to Thicknesse, Elena Graham, daughter of former Head of Investigations Department, Louis Graham, has grown tired of the married life and looked elsewhere for a bit of excitement. Despite the scandal, it is unlikely to affect Selwyn's popularity. However, it is impossible to say the same for Elena Graham. It is believed she attacked her son, Joshua (16) with an unforgivable curse after he went looking for her. Officials claim they cannot make an arrest without proof and none have managed to get in contact with Athos Selwyn. No news on how the three children are handling the scandal.

Jessica's face darkened. There were many students glancing over at the Gryffindor table. It was only a matter of minutes before the entire school knew everything. Who would've said something to Rita Skeeta? Why did she always know everything about everyone?
"Jess..." Hermione began, cautiously. "Do you want to go outside or-"
"Just leave me alone." Jessica spat, as she got up and stormed out the Great Hall.

She had to find out who opened their big mouth, and when she did, that person would have hell to pay. She also wanted a personal word with Rita Skeeter. How dare the woman write anything about her family. What happens between her parents should stay between her parents. Yes, she also wanted her mother to get some form of punishment for using the Cruciatus Curse on her brother, but that didn't mean the entire school had to know about it too.
"Jess, wait!"
Was she hearing things, or was that really Cedric Diggory calling out to her? She didn't care. She didn't want to see anyone. She didn't want to speak to anyone. She continued walking, without really caring where she was going. She just allowed her feet to take her wherever they wanted to go. She climbed countless stairs, but didn't slow down once.
"Please just wait! I just want to talk."
She didn't need anyone's pity. She didn't want to hear how sorry they were that her mother was an evil Death Eater, and how she'll most likely end up the same. She didn't want to hear any of it. She didn't care for any of it.
"Jessica!" She stopped, only because Cedric managed to grab hold on her arm. She hadn't realised she was crying already. "It's okay, the story will die down. You don't have to worry about it."
"Please just go away."
"No..." Cedric said. "Look, I don't know what happened and I don't care if you don't want to tell me, but please don't let this get to you. It was written by Rita Skeeter, for all we know it's just another publicity stunt of hers. You know what she's like."
"I don't care what she's like!" Jessica shouted. "It's no one's business what happens in my home! It's no one's business what my mother does or doesn't do! It's no one's business that-"
"Jess, calm down, okay?" Cedric said, trying to soothe the irritated girl.
"Don't tell me to calm down!"

"Diggory! I'll take it from here." Cedric spun round. He furrowed his eyebrows and stared at the boy before him. He knew all too well how Draco Malfoy was. Why would he want to take over? He would most likely just tease and make things worse.
"I think I can handle this." Cedric nodded.
"I highly doubt that." Draco said, rolling his eyes.
Jessica groaned, loudly, and stomped off. She didn't want any of them. She wanted to be alone. She didn't care if she got detention for missing classes, but she didn't want to see anyone. Surprisingly enough, no one followed her this time.
"Why can't you leave her alone, Malfoy?" Cedric sighed.
"Why can't you?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She's upset enough as it is, and-"
"I know. I can tell." Draco said, rolling his eyes again. "Selwyn and I go way back, Diggory. You don't have to worry about me making things worse when they're already as shit as they can get."
"Good." Cedric nodded. "Because you'd regret it if you made it worse."
"Who knew you, of all people, would be capable of threats." Draco smirked. He walked off before Cedric could think of a comeback. He had to find Jessica... And he was quite certain he knew where she'd be.

x.x

Harry made an attempt of going after Jessica, but he'd been immediately held back by Hermione. Jessica had been acting strange lately, almost as though she was either in a world of her own, or wishing she actually could be. He knew what her mother had done, he knew she hadn't taken it too well, but he couldn't help but wonder if there was more.
"I'll let Professor McGonagall know what happened if she doesn't show up for class today." Hermione said.
"Shouldn't someone go find her?" Ron asked, worriedly.
"No." Hermione said, sending both boys a warning glare. "She won't listen to us right now. She needs time. Right now, the only one that has a right to force her into talking would be her brother." "Where's he gone then?" Ron muttered.
"It's none of your business, Ronald. Now hurry up and eat so we can get to class." Hermione ordered.

Harry spotted the blond Selwyn across the hallway, as soon as he exited the Great Hall. It was hard to tell whether or not Joshua had read the Daily Prophet, but he wasn't willing to wait to find out.
"I'll be right back." Harry said. He dashed off quickly, before Hermione could grab hold of him. He could tell that Joshua was aware of all the stares he was receiving, but he continued to stroll down the hall as if he owned the place. Harry had to admit, Josh knew how to play it cool – and it always worked in his favour.
"Where you running off to?" Josh asked, once he spotted Harry heading his direction.
"Did you read it?" Harry asked, urgently.
"Yeah... I don't care what Skeeter writes about me." Joshua shrugged.
"Well Jess cares." Harry said, raising an eyebrow. Joshua sighed and nodded. "I don't know where she is, though. She kinda stormed off a while ago, and-"
"Relax, I've got it sorted." Joshua grinned.
"Oh my God, Josh, are you okay?" Lavender Brown squealed as she came running down the hall.
"We read it all, please tell us you're alright." Parvati added.
"You should tell the authorities, seeing as they can't get in touch with your father!" Padma Patil, Parvati's twin sister, said. Joshua smirked at the three girls, before strolling down the hall once again.
"He's so brave!" Parvati said.
"I can't believe he's being so strong for us!" Lavender sighed, dramatically.
"Oh, hello, Harry!" Padma said, with a wide grin, before waving goodbye and running off after a group of Ravenclaw students.
"Er... Hello." Harry said, somewhat confused.
"Please convince Josh to appeal against his mother for us, Harry!" Lavender begged.
"Yeah! You and Ron are always hanging around him." Parvati nodded.
Although Harry wasn't too fond of Lavender and Parvati's fan-girl-moments, he couldn't help but agree.

x.x

Draco was nearly out of breath by the time he reached the Astronomy Tower. If only Jessica had easily located hiding places. He walked slowly up the stairs, so he wouldn't startle her. He could hear the sniffs and quiet sobs.
"Go away!" She said, weakly. They were alike at times like these. Vulnerability is something they didn't share with others. He understood perfectly, but that didn't mean he was going to leave. He had to stop being such a coward. So what if she was in Gryffindor? So what if she was friends with Potter. He'd tolerate all of it.
"I've sent my father a letter, asking him to kill the story." Draco said, softly.
"I said go away!"
"Who cares what the school thinks? They won't think badly of you, if that's what you're worried about." Draco said, as he approached her a little more. "It's the first day back, Jess. By this time next week, Potter will have been given another death threat from Trelawney and everything will be back to normal."
"Nothing's normal anymore." Jessica muttered.
"We'll make it normal." Draco shrugged. Jessica groaned loudly. "We'll start by heading to class."
"I don't feel like it." Jessica mumbled, though it was hard to tell with her head buried in her arms.
"I don't care whether or not you feel like it. If you don't go to class, you'll end up in detention – with Snape." Draco smirked.
"I don't give a rat's ass." Jessica continued to mumble.
"You're going to have to work with me here, Jess." Draco sighed.
"Why'd you care anyway?" Jessica asked, irritably. She finally looked him in the eyes and all he could see was pain. He felt something sting inside him. He'd seen her upset before, and been upset also, but it was starting to feel different. He was becoming a little too different for his liking. What was he to do? Listen to Blaise's words and just give everything a chance? What would his father say to that? "Well... Why do you care?"
"I..."

"Because I like you..."

That's what he wanted to say. It was strange. Simple words – nothing too complicated about the phrase – but he couldn't say it. What would she say if he said it? She was probably too busy with Potter, or Diggory. What was he compared to Diggory?

Wait –

Did he doubt himself? He, Draco Malfoy, the one who had potential of owning the school, the one who was feared by all first years, did he doubt himself? He was much better than Diggory and Potter put together!

Wasn't he?

"You're so weird sometimes." Jessica muttered.
"Fine. Sulk all you want. I'm not going to get detention because of this." What was he saying? He wanted to smack himself. Why wasn't his mouth doing what his brain was telling it to do?
"Yes, I will sulk all I want." Jessica spat, irritably.
"Good. Have fun then." What was wrong with him? He wanted to take it all back. He wanted to stay there and make it all better. He wanted to be more like Potter...

More like Potter? Even the thought made him sick.

"Just get lost, Malfoy." Jessica muttered from beneath her arms.

Brilliant, now he'd done it. He always said the wrong thing when it came to Jessica. Why? He should search for a spell that allowed his brain to function the way he wanted it to.
"Let me know if you need anything."
Jessica didn't respond – not that he expected her to. She must think he's bipolar. Perhaps he is? It would explain many things. Yes, he was bipolar. He face palmed. What girl, in her right mind, would want a bipolar boyfriend?

Boyfriend...

What was wrong with him?

x.x

Jessica met her fellow classmates in time for their second lesson. She'd stopped by the greenhouses at the end of Professor Sprout's lesson, but she'd already been excused. Even the teachers pitied her and her family. However she wasn't going to show anyone her weak side. Her brother had arrived at the Astronomy Tower not too long after Draco had left. He seemed perfectly normal – smug even. He managed to convince her, without the need of words, that some things were best left untold. Like her pain, for example. So she knew what she was going to do...

"How are you feeling?" Ron asked. Jessica could tell he was hesitant, as though she'd explode at any moment.
"Fine." Jessica grinned. Hermione and Harry stared at her curiously. "Seriously. I've cried all I needed to cry, screamed, and now I'm fine. Rita Skeeter's a cow and she'll get what she deserves sooner or later."
"Don't you dare do anything to her, Jess! You could get in serious trouble." Hermione scolded.
"Who said I was going to do anything?" Jessica said, with an innocent look. However, it soon turned into a smirk.
"Glad to have you back, Jess." Harry grinned.
"Come on then, we've got Hagrid's lesson next." Ron said, eagerly.

Hagrid was standing outside his hut, one hand on Fang's collar. There were several open wooden crates on the ground at his feet, and Fang was whimpering and straining at his collar, apparently keen to investigate the contents more closely.
"Mornin'!" Hagrid said, happily. Jessica stared at the wooden crate curiously. There was an odd rattling noise coming from it. "Better wait fer the Slytherins. They won' want ter miss this – blast-ended skrewts!"
"Blast-ended what?" Harry asked, confused. Hagrid nodded at the crate. Lavender and Parvati shuffled forward, feeling curious.
"Gross!" Lavender squealed. The creatures looked like deformed, shell less lobsters, horribly pale and slimy looking, with legs sticking out in very odd places and no visible heads. There were about a hundred of them in each crate, each about six inches long, crawling over one another, bumping blindly into the sides of the boxes.
"They ain't that bad!" Hagrid beamed, excitedly. However, none of the students could agree. To make matters worse, the creatures smelt of rotting fish. Every now and then, sparks would fly out of the end of a skrewt, and with a small phut, it would be propelled forward. "Jus' hatched, so yer'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!"
"Why would we want to do that?" Said a cold voice. The Slytherin's had arrived. The owner of the annoyed, cold voice was none other than Draco Malfoy. As usual, he walked side by side with Blaise Zabini, and was closely followed by a chuckling Crabbe and Goyle. "I mean, what do they do? What's the point of having them?"
"Well..." Hagrid thought for a slight moment, and after a few moments of pause, he cleared his throat and stared at the Slytherin's. "Tha's next lesson, Malfoy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today. Now, yer'll want ter try 'em on a few different things. I've never had 'em before, not sure what they'll go fer. I got ant eggs, frog livers, an' a bit of grass snake – just try 'em out with a bit of each."
Jessica mostly watched the other students deal with their skrewts. She was still building up the courage to get close to them, let alone feed them. If it weren't for Hagrid, she wouldn't even be in this lesson anymore. She loved animals, but she had her limits.
"Ouch! It got me!" Dean yelled, after about ten minutes. Hagrid rushed over to him, looking anxious. "Its end exploded!"
"Ah, yeah, that can happen when they blast off." Hagrid nodded.
"What are these pointy things?" Hermione asked, curiously.
"Some of 'em have got stings." Hagrid said, enthusiastically. "They're the males. The females 'ave got sorta sucker things on their bellies... Ter suck blood."
"Well, I can see why we're trying to keep them alive. Who wouldn't want pets that can burn, sting and bite all at once?" Malfoy said, sarcastically.
"At least I know what I'm getting you for Christmas this year, Draco." Jessica said, in a sarcastically sweet voice. Draco glared at her in response.

"Well, at least the skrewts are small." Ron said, as they made their way back up the castle for lunch, an hour later.
"For now at least. Once Hagrid's found out what they eat, I expect they'll be six feet long." Hermione said, exasperatedly.
"I wonder what's for lunch." Harry said quickly, hoping to avoid a discussion between Hermione and Ron.
"I'm not really that hungry, to be honest." Jessica sighed.
"Don't you dare start!" Hermione said, stopping right in front of Jessica and not allowing her to go any further. "I've allowed certain things to slide, I've given you space to sulk as much as you like, but you're not going to shut any of us out any longer!"
"Hermione..." Ron said, glancing around at the older students, who were staring at them as they walked past.
"I'm not shutting anyone out anymore, okay? Just not really that hungry." Jessica said, as normally as she could.
"What are you going to do then?" Hermione asked, curiously.
"We're going down to lake." Harry said quickly. He grabbed hold of Jessica's arm and dragged her back outside, before Ron or Hermione could say anything.

"We're not really going down to the lake, are we?" Jessica practically whined, as she allowed herself to be dragged around by Harry.
"We might." He said, as he glanced back.
Jessica remained silent until Harry finally stopped walking and sat down on the grass. They had an hour to kill before their Divination lesson, but Jessica had hoped she'd be alone for the hour. Perhaps she shouldn't have changed her humour so suddenly – at least then her friends wouldn't be so suspicious.
"So..." Jessica said, as she sat down next to Harry.
"What did your brother say to you?" Harry asked, curiously.
"Nothing much... I just decided it would be pointless to worry so much about what Rita Skeeter says. I know what the truth is and what isn't." Jessica shrugged.
"Even though what she wrote was true?" Harry wondered.
"Who cares?" Jessica chuckled.
"I care... You care... A lot of people care, Jess. You do know that it's likely Mrs. Weasley will want to talk to you once she reads the paper, right?" Harry said. He wasn't convinced by his friend's attitude.
"Harry... I'm fine. I really am, okay?" Jessica sighed. "But you're going to end up getting on my nerves if you keep this up."
"Fine." Harry sighed. Jessica grinned triumphantly. "Who do you suppose will get a death omen this year?"
"You, of course! You're the boy-who-lived, remember?" Jessica grinned. "Everything strange will always point to you."
"Wow, thanks for that." Harry chuckled.
"You're welcome." Jessica nodded.
"Would be funny if Ron got it, though." Harry grinned, mischievously.
"That would just give the poor boy a heart attack." Jessica said. She sighed loudly, dropped her body onto the grass and stared up at the cloudy sky. "But I'll admit it would be pretty hilarious."
"Maybe we should drop it." Harry wondered.
"I'm not doing Arithmancy. Have you seen the crazy calculations Hermione spends hours on?" Jessica said.
"Nope..." Harry said, shaking his head.
"Lucky you." Jessica muttered. "She once tried to explain the simple side of Arithmancy. Needless to say, it took me forever to fall asleep afterwards."
"Nothing new there." Harry chuckled, before also dropping his body onto the grass and staring up at the sky.
"Have you heard anything new from Sirius?" Jessica asked, as she observed a rabbit shaped cloud.
"Not yet. I actually want to ask him something..." Harry said, thoughtfully.
"If you mention the article-"
"He's probably aware of it, or at least will be eventually." Harry sighed. "Besides, what makes you think I'd mention it?"
"Because you're you." Jessica said, rolling her eyes.
"True... I was going to, anyway." Harry grinned. Jessica slapped his shoulder and glared at him, angrily. "Just kidding around, Jess! You really need to work on your sense of humour."
"And you need to work on yours." Jessica said, still glaring. Harry chuckled and nudged his friend playfully.

x.x

Jessica, Harry and Ron made themselves comfortable at the small circular table, which had a crystal ball sat in the middle. The familiar sweet perfume spread around the stuffy room.
"Good day." Said the misty voice of Professor Trelawney. The thin woman with enormous glasses, which made her eyes appear far too large for her face, peered down at Harry with the same tragic expression she always wore whenever she saw him. "You are preoccupied, my dear. My inner eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas... Most difficult... I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass... And perhaps sooner than you think..."
"I think you've got Harry mixed up with Jessica, Professor!" Lavender Brown said, as she skipped into the classroom. Jessica rolled her eyes at the blonde girl and tried her best to ignore her. "I'm certain you read the paper this morning, didn't you Professor? Do you think Elena Graham's guilty?"
"Do you think Lavender's going to get smacked or punched, Professor?" Jessica said, through gritted teeth. Ron and Harry grabbed hold of her sleeve, before she could jump on Lavender.
"Just ignore her." Ron whispered.

"Alright my dears, it is time for us to consider the stars." Trelawney said. "The movements of the planets and the mysterious portents they reveal only to those who understand the steps of the celestial dance. Human destiny may be deciphered by the planetary rays..."
However Jessica didn't hear the rest of what Trelawney had to say. With her head rested in her crossed arms, she closed her eyes and succumbed to sleep – something she'd been wanting to do all night, but hadn't because of the thunderstorm. She awoke, unsure of how long later, to the sound of Ron's laughter. Trelawney must've said something quite epic.
"I've got two Neptune's here..." Harry said, as he stared at his piece of parchment. Jessica stretched her back and arms, and yawned. She leaned forward, with droopy eyes, and tried to understand what Harry was talking about.
"Ah!" Ron said, imitating Trelawney's mystical whisper. "When two Neptune's appear in the sky, it is a sure sign that a midget in glasses is being born, Harry!"
Jessica chuckled at Ron's teasing words, which were obviously directed at Harry.
"Wrong, Ron. Jess doesn't wear glasses." Harry grinned. Jessica glared at him, as he exchanged a high-five with Ron. Seamus, Dean and Neville, who sat right behind them, had to curl themselves into a ball to keep from laughing loudly.
"Professor, look! I think I've got something! Oooh, which one's that, Professor?" Lavender squealed excitedly.
"It is Uranus, my dear." Trelawney said, peering down at the chart.
"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" Ron said. Jessica and Harry immediately burst out laughing, both unable to stifle it in the slightest. Most unfortunately, Professor Trelawney heard Ron, loud and clear, and it was this that made her give them so much homework at the end of the class.
"A detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart!" She snapped, sounding a lot like Professor McGonagall. "I want it ready to hand in next Monday, no excuses!"

"I don't care if I have to spend forty-eight hours writing this up. What you said, Ron, was priceless!" Jessica beamed, as they walked across the hall.
"I actually think it was rather disrespectful." Hermione said, shaking her head.
"You should've seen Lavender's face, though! Bright red!" Jessica grinned. "Besides, she's had it coming for a while."
"I think you've been acting a little too vengeful lately." Hermione laughed.
"She almost pounced on Lavender, she did!" Ron said.
"Alright, alright. No need to tell on me." Jessica said, sticking her tongue out.
"She would probably be in the Hospital wing if we hadn't held onto her." Harry grinned.
"She'd be across the ocean by now, if I had gotten my hands on her." Jessica muttered, mostly to herself, but her friends heard her. Harry and Ron snorted, but Hermione didn't seem too pleased.
"You really need to watch what you say or do, Jess. Your dad might be one of the governor's, but that doesn't mean-"

"Was one of the governor's!" Crabbe said, as he glided into view.
"According to Malfoy, some people don't want Mr. Selwyn on the school board after that scandal." Goyle grinned.
"According to my fist, you're about to die." Jessica glared.
"Jess!" Hermione squealed.
"I'd like to see you try Selwyn. I'll break all your tiny bones." Crabbe said, as he approached the shorter girl.
"Can you even spell the word 'bones'?" Jessica smirked, teasingly. Crabbe practically growled in response.
"Just leave her alone." Ron said, nervously. Harry was already successfully holding onto Jessica's arm, because knowing her, she'd pounce on Crabbe and probably rip his hair out. However, Crabbe was triple her size, so he wouldn't want a fight between the two of them to break out.
"Is there a problem here?" Josh asked. Jessica huffed, irritably, and pulled her arm out of Harry's grip.
"I've got it sorted." She said, through gritted teeth, as she glared at Crabbe.
"I would be scared if I were you, Crabbe. She got the violent side from me." Josh smirked. Crabbe was finally backing down, now that Josh was in the scene. No matter how mad he was at Jessica, he would never do anything in front of her brother. Her brother was downright terrifying.
"You better watch your back, Selwyn." Crabbe said, before he shoved past them.
"Honestly, Jessica, you're going to get yourself in trouble. I don't understand what's wrong with you." Hermione said, worriedly.
"Nothing's wrong." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. She was about to start walking again, but someone stopped her.
"You and I need to talk." Josh said, in a serious tone.